Abstract

The African lion Panthera leo is an iconic
species but it has faced dramatic range reductions and
possibly as few as 30,000 individuals remain in the wild.
In the absence of detailed ground-based surveys, lion
populations may be estimated using regression models
based on prey biomass availability but these often
overestimate lion densities as a result of a variety of
compounding factors. Anthropogenic factors can be key
drivers of lion population dynamics and in areas with high
human impact lion numbers may be significantly lower
than those predicted by prey biomass models. This was
investigated in two protected areas in Zimbabwe, where lion
population densities were found to be significantly lower
than would have been predicted by prey-availability models.
High hunting quotas either within or around the protected
areas are the most likely cause of the low lion numbers, with
quotas in some areas being as high as seven lions per 1,000
km2 in some years. Other factors, including persecution,
poisoning and problem animal control, as well as disease
and competition with spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta, are
also discussed.